Who gets targeted in cyber crime?
Sarah Duran
Updated on February 21, 2026
Small Businesses Account for 70% of All Attacks
The cyber-attacks you see hitting the headlines are those that have successfully targeted large and prominent businesses, such as Netflix, JP Morgan, and Target, but more than 70% of attacks are targeted towards small businesses.Who are the targets of cybercrime?
Everyone is a Target for Cybercrime
- Customer Data. The likelihood is that you have a database with all of the information you have regarding your customers or clients. ...
- Intellectual Property. Does your business have to create designs and concepts? ...
- Employee Data. ...
- Business Data.
Who is most likely to be a victim of cyber crime?
Younger individuals aged 18 to 40 are the least likely to report cyber crime and are more likely to become victims of it resulting in a loss of data or money, according to a study by Atlas VPN.Which industry is targeted most by cyber criminals?
IBM Report: Cybercriminals Most Heavily Targeted Manufacturing in 2021. Manufacturing dethroned financial service and insurance as the most attacked industry. A new IBM report shows manufacturing was the most targeted industry for cyberattacks in 2021.Who are hackers targets?
Small and medium business are the top target for cyberattacks. Unlike large corporations who have the money and resources to pay for cybersecurity and upgrade their network match the latest hacker tricks, small businesses do not have that same luxury" and hackers know it.Webinar: Fraud and cyber-crime update and top tips
How do hackers pick their targets?
They tend to be younger and more inexperienced, and often operate as part of a small group or even alone. The main incentive here is an ideology or an agenda they're willing to follow, with their targets often institutions or companies that are at odds with these strongly held beliefs.How do criminals target networks?
Targeted attacks may include: spear-phishing - sending emails to targeted individuals that could contain an attachment with malicious software, or a link that downloads malicious software. deploying a botnet - to deliver a DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack.What are the top 3 targeted industries?
Top Target Industries For Cyber Attack
- Business.
- Healthcare/Medical.
- Banking/Credit/Financial.
- Government/Military.
- Education.
- Energy/Utilities.
Who is affected by cybersecurity?
Small BusinessesAccording to the Verizon 2019 Data Breach Investigation Report, 43% of cyber attacks were directed toward small businesses, making it the largest target of all cyberattacks represented in the report. The biggest threat small businesses face is phishing attacked targets.
Who are the victims of cyber terrorism?
According to the U.S. Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection, possible cyberterrorist targets include the banking industry, military installations, power plants, air traffic control centers and water systems.Why do people become victims of cybercrime?
Cybercriminals always opt for an easy way to make big money. They target rich people or rich organizations like banks, casinos, and financial firms where a huge amount of money flows daily and hack sensitive information. Catching such criminals is difficult.Why might someone get involved in cybercrime?
Cyber criminals seek to exploit human or security vulnerabilities in order to steal passwords, data or money directly. The most common cyber threats include: Hacking - including of social media and email passwords.What are the Top 5 cyber crimes?
What Are the Top Five Cybercrimes?
- #1 Phishing. “Tap on this link and win a million dollars right away!” Sounds too good to be true, right? ...
- #2 Cyber Extortion. ...
- #3 Data breach. ...
- #4 Identity theft. ...
- #5 Harassment.
Do cyber criminals only target large companies?
Cyber criminals only target large companies. True or False? This is incorrect! Cyber criminals target companies of all sizes.What are the top 3 targeted industries for cyber security?
5 Key Industries Most Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks in 2020
- Healthcare. Healthcare organizations continue to be the most exposed industry to cyber-attacks this year. ...
- Technology and Telecoms. ...
- Finance Services Industry. ...
- Construction Industry.
Who needs cyber security the most?
Although it is necessary for ALL businesses to instill a sense of value around cyber security, there are 6 institutions that are believed to need it the most. Namely; healthcare, small businesses, government agencies, manufacturing, financial institutions, education and energy and utility institutions.Was cyber security a priority target?
Was Cybersecurity a priority at Target? Cybersecurity was not a priority for Target, the completion of an investigation revealed that the upper management at Target knew about the lax in security and it was never remedied.Why might a threat actor target you or your organisation?
Threat Actor TargetsThey look for vulnerabilities to exploit rather than individual people. In fact, mass scammers and automated hackers attack as many systems as possible and spread between networks like an infection.
How many cyber attacks happen per day?
How many cybersecurity attacks are there per day? By some counts, there are more than 2,200 cyberattacks per day. That equates to about one cyberattack every 39 seconds.What weapons are used in cyber warfare?
Examples
- Duqu.
- Flame (malware)
- Great Cannon.
- Mirai (malware)
- Stuxnet.
- Wiper (malware)
What are the five main industries that have been historically targeted by hackers?
There's an ongoing argument about the ranking, but the five industries at risk of cyber attacks among them are:
- Public administration.
- Healthcare & pharmaceuticals.
- Finance & insurance.
- Education & research.
- Retail.